Why Replace Silver Fillings with White Fillings

1 July 2020

White fillings have several advantages over silver amalgam fillings. If you currently have one or more silver fillings, here are some reasons why you might want to consider having them replaced.

Cheap and hard-wearing, amalgam fillings are made from silver mixed with mercury and other metals, such as copper, tin and zinc. They used to be the first choice of material for fillings, with white (or composite) fillings considered less long-lasting. However, the material used for white fillings has improved dramatically and now makes them suitable for long-term use.

Composite white fillings tend to be made from a mix of glass, quartz, silica and other ceramic material, with a resin base.

At Cherrybank Dental Spa, we only work with composite fillings, as we believe them to be biologically compatible and have the advantage of being chemically bonded to the tooth surface, as well as being more aesthetic.

The Advantages of White Fillings

One of the main advantages of white fillings is that they can be made to match the colour of your existing teeth. While silver fillings can be clearly seen in your mouth, white fillings look natural, so no one need know you even have a filling.

In addition, health concerns have been raised over the use of amalgam fillings. This is because they contain mercury. We want to stress that amalgam fillings have been used for a long time, and there is no conclusive evidence to say they are safe or unsafe. In fact, they are still used to treat NHS dental patients. All we know is that mercury is a toxin, and when amalgam fillings wear away, this mercury is released. If this is a concern you share, you may want to think about changing your amalgam fillings to ones made from composite.

The method used to bond the filling in place also requires less drilling, which, of course, is something patients always appreciate!

Can My Silver Fillings Be Replaced?

It is important that the benefits and risks of replacing existing fillings are taken into account. That is why we assess each patient on an individual basis. Where possible, we will develop a plan to replace the amalgam fillings with composite or porcelain, as we believe they are a good choice from both a structural and aesthetic point of view.

If you have concerns over your amalgam fillings or wish to discuss the possibility of having them replaced with white fillings, please get in touch with us. We are happy to talk through your options and come up with a treatment plan that works for you.

To book a consultation with our expert at Cherrybank Dental Spa, or to find out about Digital Smile Design at Cherrybank and how it could work for you, call us today on 01738 481 519

Alternatively, you can contact our expert dental team via an online consultation, where you can find out: